Jeffrey Strange, associate professor of theatre, resident scenic and lighting designer and technical director of the Center for the Arts Theatre at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, was recently honored with the university’s third annual Nimocks Family Faculty Appreciation Award.
He was nominated for the award by Dr. Laura Anderson, chair of the Department of Performing and Visual Arts at UW-Platteville, and Dr. Ann Farrelly, associate professor and theatre program coordinator at UW-Platteville.
The award, created in 2007 by Dr. Mittie Nimocks Den Herder, former provost and vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, honors and recognizes outstanding faculty at UW-Platteville who teach effectively, teach the value of diversity, teach the ability to argue sensitive issues with competence and civility, create opportunities for students to engage in high-impact practices, and teach the importance of a liberal arts education.
“I am deeply thankful and humbled by this award, particularly because its spirit goes to the core of what I aspire to each day,” said Strange. “We are at our best when our students are actively engaged in the process of learning, no matter the discipline. I’m so impressed at the talent of our students, and I can’t wait to see what new successes they will have.”
“Jeffrey’s expertise in the areas of theatrical set design and construction is at the core of the high-impact practice of creative endeavors that enriches the academic experience of so many UW-Platteville students,” said Anderson. “There is a common misconception that only students with a major or minor in theatre are involved in the theatrical productions on this campus. On the contrary, many non-theatre majors, including a number of engineering students, are employed every semester in the design and construction of amazing theatrical sets. All students who work under Jeffrey’s expert guidance gain not only valuable professional skills, but also a deeper understanding of the place theatre – and by extension the liberal arts – has in the life of an academic institution.”
“Professor Strange is one of the finest teachers on this campus,” said Farrelly. “He is passionate and dedicated and puts the students first in all things. He shows evidence of excellence in several of the award categories, and he is a wonderful example of all that this prestigious award represents. He has dedicated his life to teaching and to mentoring students – a job at which he is masterful – while still maintaining a professional profile with his work in summer stock.”
Since Strange began working at the university in fall 2011, he has designed, mentored student designers, technical directed, or done all three simultaneously, for more than 30 productions. For each of the productions, he supervises and leads a team of students through the implementation of every design.
Farrelly noted that Strange clearly recognizes that theatre is the embodiment of a high impact practice, as it is necessary to put theories into practice on a constant basis.
“Jeffrey not only mentors student designers, crew members and technical directors, but he also runs a shop of more than 20 students who are tasked with constructing the sets, hanging and focusing the lighting instruments and engineering sound technology for our five production seasons,” she said. “In addition to managing a shop, Jeffrey’s courses all culminate in a capstone experience in which the students must put the theories of the course into practical applications. For example, in his scenic design course, the students design a musical from concept to color model. In his lighting design course, students design the lights for a show in the ‘One Act Festival.’”
Strange also helped to create and lead a theatre study abroad Winterim to London. He also partners often with the Tri-State Homeschool Association on grant projects in which his scenic painting students mentor and aid the homeschool students with their productions.
Strange’s knowledge, skills, leadership and mentorship have clearly had a positive impact on his students and their success. Three of his student scenic designers have been awarded certificates of merit from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival. In addition to those honors, several of his students have been employed in internships and in staff positions at nationally recognized professional regional theatres, such as the Berkshire Theatre Group, Barrington Stage Company, Opera Saratoga, Peninsula Players, Cortland Repertory and the Hartford Stage.
As of this year, two of Strange’s recent students are pursuing Master of Fine Arts in scenic design at Kent State University and Ohio University and two more have recently been accepted into graduate scenic design programs at West Virginia University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Farrelly noted that of those four students, two are women. “Scenic design is a male-dominated field, and Jeffrey has been instrumental in encouraging more women designers,” she said.
Strange teaches Introduction to Theatre, Stagecraft, Scenic Design, Lighting Design and Production, Drafting for the Theatre, Scenic Painting and Period Styles for the Theatre. The Dayton, Ohio native received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre production: scenic design and scenic painting from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, and a Master of Fine Arts in scenic design from Wayne State’s Hilberry Repertory Theatre in Detroit, Michigan.
Strange will be recognized at the university’s convocation on Thursday, Aug. 29.